But, as was the case when City were eliminated from the Champions League last season against Spurs, the joy proved short-lived.

During the first half versus Mauricio Pochettino's men this time, Rodri was not awarded a penalty despite replays appearing to show he was man-handled by Erik Lamela in the area – with Guardiola joking "VAR was taking a coffee".

But, despite that complaint, he cited an initial hard line against shirt-pulling during the 2016-17 season and the subsequent relaxation as evidence the Premier League can plot its own path as it plays catch-up with the rest of Europe's major leagues in implementing VAR.

Asked whether use of technology should be suspended in the wake of the latest controversies, Guardiola replied: "No, no, no. We have to continue.

"I remember the first season when I arrived here that in the boxes when you touched like this [pulled a shirt] it was a penalty. After they re-adapted.

"But if it is hands, it's hands. For me it is not clear, when I watch it from different angles it is not clear."

The result should probably have been beyond doubt despite Lamela and Lucas Moura twice pegging back goals from Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero, as City dominated with a shot count of 30-3 – or 30-2 according to Guardiola's assertion that Harry Kane's audacious attempt from halfway during the second period "is not a shot".

The City boss has no doubts about his side's capacity in front of goal despite an early setback in their quest for a third consecutive Premier League crown.

"I don't know how many goals we scored last season. I don't have doubts that we have a team to score a lot of goals," he said.

"Obviously, if we arrive with 30 shots [it is] to score five or six. We play for that.

"Of course you have to improve but I don't have doubts that we can score a lot of goals. In the last two seasons we were the team with the most goals. I don't have doubts about that.

He added: "I said to the players it's emotional and frustrating to lose two points in that way but football is like this. It is the only sport where you can shoot 30 and the other two and you can draw or lose.

"That's why this game is fascinating."

Guardiola expects centre-back John Stones to be out for around a week to 10 days after a thigh injury left him unavailable to face Tottenham.

Kevin De Bruyne, who suffered a succession of injury problems last season, was back to his brilliant best at the weekend with a pair of wonderful assists.

"We are incredibly happy for him because last season he suffered being injured," said Guardiola.

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Raphael Varane sees Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema as an inspiration due to his longevity at the very top.

Benzema, 31, joined Madrid in 2009 and has gone on to carve out a fine career at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Arguably the most impressive aspect of Benzema's Madrid career has been his ability to rediscover his best form after struggling in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 campaigns, scoring only 16 goals across 61 matches.

Last term he found the net 21 times and he has started the new campaign in solid fashion as well, scoring four goals in as many games, including a brace in Saturday's 3-2 win over Levante.

The Lyon academy product has seemingly established himself as one of the world's elite strikers once again and Varane looks up to him for having such a prolonged career at the top.

Speaking ahead of the release of his Amazon Prime documentary, Varane said: "We [Varane and Benzema] have a good relationship. When I arrived in Madrid, there were two Frenchmen, him and Lassana Diarra.

"We have known each other for eight years now. We've had great moments together. We talk a lot. We talk a lot about football, in good and bad times.

"We have a very good relationship. He has more experience than me, so he can have a role of giving advice on how to approach things at the highest level and how to last that level because he's been at Madrid a while and his longevity is exceptional."

David Alaba is set to miss the start of Bayern Munich's Champions League campaign after tearing a muscle in his left thigh.

The 27-year-old suffered the injury in the warm-up before Bayern's 1-1 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday.

Jerome Boateng replaced him in the starting XI, with Lucas Hernandez moving to the left side of defence.

Bayern did not confirm a timeline for Alaba's return but head coach Niko Kovac will have to weigh up his options for Wednesday's home clash against Red Star Belgrade.

"Bayern will be without David Alaba for a spell after the Austria international tore a muscle in his left thigh while warming up for Saturday's top Bundesliga match away to RB Leipzig," the club confirmed in a statement.

Linked to Barcelona during the close season, Alaba started each of Bayern's opening three Bundesliga fixtures and scored in the 6-1 thrashing of Mainz last month.